Centering device



W. E. FRISK CENTERING DEVICE July 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.27, 1949 INVENTOR! Walter E. Frisk July 7, 1953 w, FRlsK 2,644,241

CENTERING DEVICE Filed Aug. 27, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 uh 'm.

' INVENTOR. Walter If. Frz'sk 7140, (9&2; @JM

Patented July 7, 1953 CENTERING DEVICE Walter E. Frisk, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to Montgomery Ward & 00., Incorporated, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application August 27, 1949, Serial No. 112,817

5 Claims. (91.33-191) 'This invention relates to acentering device foruse in commercial establishments engaged in engraving a large amount oftable cutlery.

Heretofore the procedure followed for engraving such cutlery by anengraving machine was for the operator, through his experience andskill, to approximate the centerline of the handle before applying theengraved design thereto. This procedure was time consumin and alsoresulted in a variance in the location of the design on the handle. Themore elaborate the design, the more difficult it was for the, operatorto correctly position the engraving.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a devicewhich will enable the operator to quickly determine the centerline ofthe handle and thus expedite the engraving op" eration.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device which isadapted to accommodate cutlery of various sizes and shapes.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a device whichis simple in construction, effective in operation, and inexpensive toproduce.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description,accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance withone embodiment of this invention, a device is providedfor finding the longitudinal centerline of the handle of a piece oftable cutlery comprising a base having an element slidably mountedthereon. 'Pivotally connected to the upper end of the slidable elementis a pair of self-aligning gripping members. The element is adapted tonormally assume a retracted position and the gripping members, a grippinrelationship. A means is mounted on the base for actuating the elementin a vertical direction whereupon the gripping members assume anon-gripping relationship. Mounted on the base is a bracket having aportion thereof extending above and over the gripping members. A punchis slidably mounted on the extended bracket portion and is positioned insuperposed relation with respect to the slidable element.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should bemade to the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevationalview of the device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view'of the overhanging portion ofthe bracket.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device taken alon line 4-4 of Fig.1. 7

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the gripping members.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the pivotal connection for thegripping members.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, toFigs. 1 and 2, acentering device It is shown comprisinga base ll shown in the form of ablock, and a post l2 slidably mounted within a suitable opening itformed within said.

block. The post i2 is actuated in a verticaldirection by means of anoperating lever I l, which is pivotally connected at point. IE to theblock ii. The enclosed end it of lever It is positioned within a notchii formed in the periphery of the post 52. The exposed or opposite endof lever it is shaped intoa suitable handle is. The operating lever isadapted to normally hold the post B2 in a retracted position by means ofa coil spring is which is secured at one end to block ii and, at theother end, to a lug i9 laterally mounted on the exposed end portion H ofsaid lever. A suitable opening 20 is formed in block I! so as to enablethe lever I4 to move about pivot point I5.

To the upper end of post I2 is pivotally connected at point 2! a pair ofgripping members or jaws 22 and 23. The gripping members are adaptedwhen the shaft is moved upwardly by lever i l to assume. a nongrippingrelationship. Suitable'guides or rests 24 and 25 are mounted within acavity 25', formed in the upper portion of block H and positioned oneither side i of post 82, so as to engage and cause the gripping members22 and 23 to assume a g pp end 3! thereof pointed and case-hardened. The

operation of the punch 39 will be discussed more fully later.

Gripping members 22 and 23 are of like construction, comprising pedestalmembers 32 and 32a, and jaw members 35 and 35a, respectively, adjustablymounted thereon. The lower end 33 of pedestal member 32 is bifurcatedand is adapted to receive a tongue formed in end'33a of pedestal member32a as shown in Fig. 6. Ends 33 and 33a are embraced by and pivotallymounted on the bifurcated upper end 39 of post I2. The upper portions 34and 34a, of the pedestal members 32 and 32a, respectively, are enlargedand substantially flat and serve to support the jaw members mountedthereon. The Jew mbers a e se ure to t ns 3. n 3 30. of the pedestalmembers by means of shouldered holdin'gbol'ts 36 and 36a, respectively,which extend through suitable openings 3} formed in the jaw members 35and 35a and are threaded into the corresponding pedestal 'n'1emhere. Theshouldered shank it? of each bolt prevents the jaw member from beingdrawn up tightly against the supporting surface of'th'e pedestal member.Thus, each jaw member is adapted to move relative to th'eped estalmember. A small amount of clearance 38 is provided in each jaw memberbetween the shouldered shank .3 an th f p of 99 195 and 3662, positionedparallel'to' and spaced from boltsiifi and sea, extend through suitableopenmgsrcmied in the jaw members. The ends of 7 pins terminate withinthe respeetivepedestal m rS T ie l' m mbers fiend. ar l -e em n d p ed oPi O smu p .9 3 l p q i Th m l f i-TiQ- er Wei em 1 @he' r s se se when"t e." serene m q d wfl h ipw e evergre s. surf ces M a d. til of thejawmembers 55, and a, respectively,'are serrated as'shown in Figs. 1, 2,and 5.

Th fre l e at rs formed in t bsi ed e ween the" g ip i members, the,

operatonreleases the lever is, and, the spring i9 forces said intogripping relation unit ect'to the handle, As seen "in Fig. 4, the jaw'members are adapted to align themselves with respect to the periphery of.the, handle 42 to be more'firmlygripped therebetweenl After the handled; has been positioned, as shown in.

4, the operator presses down on the punch 30 causing an indentation ormark'to be v made on the handle by the pointed. tip 3.4, of the punch.The" punch is normally held in its up o r inopt n y 0 1. ring s3, whichem: braces the upper portion of the shank. end'of the spring t'engagesthe upper end of bushing 'ZB'an'dthe other end an enlarged, headstatemen the upper end of the punch.

THeTree end portion 27 of bracket 25, see Fig; 3', is provided with anopening 45 to permit a screw driver to be, insertedtherethrough intoengagement with the holding bolt 3,561 the gripping member 23 foradjustment thereof. One side ofthe'en'd of portion 21 is cutawayslightly, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to enable the operator to morereadily View the work positionedbetween thegripping members.

Thus, it will be seen that a centerin device one,

has been provided which greatly facilitates the operator in performingthe engraving operation. Furthermore, the device eliminates uesswork onthe part of the operator in determining the correct-location of theengraved design on the handle.

While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it willbe understood, of QQulflse, that the invention is not to be limitedthereto, since many modifications may be made and it is contemplated,therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications asfall within the true spirit and scope of this in enfiqn- 1 A devige 0;?the class described comprising a block having an opening formed therein,an elongated'elenientslidably mounted within said opening, work-grippingjaws pivotally mounted on said element and adapted to be actuated from ans i ellv rip ng elation to a m re semsr p insi relates .1 011 lideb e mem n of aid lemen pivota mounted n aid bl 9. 5 efi stine slide le. qemsnt. of said. 1. bra ke m n q n a bl k and hav ng a PQ i H r f exnding a qve and ov r Sa laws. a d a. markin de i e, id;- e m un s- Q as.xt nded. racket qrti n. hav n he i said mark n d v e ar d b w e he. adjae t surfaces, of aid er l izin m mb r A device oi h class des ibed. c mpsin I a base, a el n ated Yer al ex endin pest te ai ase or le ei udinaim veme and adapted to normally assume a down posi; tion with respe s idbase, a pair of selfe e" W rk-entries pe ti e-v; connected withthe'upper end portion .of s d st, guides m umed n aid. ba e and wi e n iher ide f aid; pest an adap e to na l-e2 said jaws and eii ect movementof said jaws toa d a h o er Said is. in said d wn position, nivqtal vmount d said. base r. me tin sa r t .19 P sit on. and.

efiect movement of said jaws away from each;

hsn fi. a ark ler s m unte on. sai ase for 1 .1 centra y osi ned withrespect to the opposing surfaces or said" laws.

devi f. he. cla s d sslt bs a, a e. n element m lmied for r c smcamovement on said base and adapted to, nor. mally a s e, a. p s ion nterm nal of reciprocator-y movement, a pair; of WOIK-rg ifiQr e e i istalv Qnneded h a d. e e.' men a d ad d a ume, a r p n 1 Qn when, saidelement t said'one terminal position, means pivotally mounted on said bef. for actuating said element. from. said tern iinal, position toaposition, whereby, said, jaws assume, a ei n lapse. and a r -mark de.-.vice mounted on said base. for movement in a line; fi l ll P i iP-QBQ, Wth. es t 1,0; Sail. jaws.

4.. de s fi th las d scr ed: cqm sine a base; a p st m 2 2: rrocatarymor m na base, and dapted. i normal y a ms a P it a ne minal, of. s. rrocatory movement, a pair of pedestal members i i lv m unte n nd. f a d:p t, work-gripping jaw element adjustably, mounted on a h. ofv aid rasest l mem e i e mounted on said base and disposed, on opposite, sides ofsaid post, and adapted when S i p s is at said rmis l P9 n. ensase, aidpe lestal members and efiect closing together of said pedestal members,means pivotally mounted on said base for moving said post from saidterminal position to a position whereby said p estal members assume anopen relationship with respect to one another, and a marking devicemounted on said base for movement in a line coincident to the axis ofsaid post for marking a work piece held between said jaw elements.

5. A device of the class described comprising a block having an openingformed therein, a post slidably mounted within said opening, a pair ofpedestal members pivotally connected with one end of said post, a pairof jaw elements, one of said jaw elements swivelly mounted on each ofsaid pedestal members, a post-actuating lever pivotally mounted on saidblock and having one end thereof engaging said post and having the otherend thereof extending outwardly from said block, said lever, adapted tonormally assume a rest position, whereby said post is retracted withinsaid opening and said pedestal members assume a relatively closedposition with respect to one another.

WALTER E. FRISK.

References Cited in the file of this patent Norway May 7, 1900

